Abstract
This study proposes a model curriculum for Vocational Home Economics High School in the 7th Curriculum Revision. The model in the study is first drawn from the assumptions that reflect ever changing demands of industrial society for Home Economics education. Another perspective employed in the study is historical analysis that focuses on the evolution of the Vocational Home Economics Curricula from the 1st through the 6th revision. This study also employes comparative research tools for the national level comparison such as USA, Japan, Taiwan, and Korea. The proposed model curriculum in this study is concluded from those step-by-step studies as follows：1) Problem definition and design in current curriculum for Vocational Home Economics high school； 2) Needs and roles analysis of Vocational Home Economics high school for the future； and 3)Historical analysis of our curriculum revisions in the past and coparative analysis with other countries. Authors conducted this research project for 3 month period from June 15, 1996 to September 15, 1996. During this period, authors collected the data and information through those method as an extensive literature review, survey and interview, and curriculum specialist conference. The key and critical features of the proposed curriculum in the study are as follows：1) In the numbers of department, a proposed model curriculum offers 8 as opposed to 6 in the 6th revision, reflecting two additional departments of “Elderly Welfare”and “Cosmotology”. 2) In the statement of educational objectives, a model curriculum emphasizes a more concrete statement to each specific skills according to the changing societal needs. 3) In the numbers of total subject matters, there would be 40 in the new as opposed to 23 in the current curriculum. Among these changes, 17 would occurr in the newly introduced subject matters, while 11 would simply change the subject matter name. Among 40 subject matter, “Introduction to Computer” and “Home Economics in Vocational Education”would be required subject matter. 4) In the total numbers of required unit for graduation in three years, a model offers 86∼132 unit. A maximum unit for each subject matter would be 12.
